Oh good point. I forgot. I don't use portable amps as portables.

Even if a fair amount of dust and "gunk" collected inside the amp I don't understand how this could affect performance, resale value I'm sure though.

At most I can't see more than just dust entering the amp unless you take it mountain biking or something like that.

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You should also look at the Hornet, Tomahawk, Supermacro, etc. They all have an air gap by the gain switch. Not a big deal, IMO.

Good point though it would seem to have been an easy fix with a round hole and a simple flat plug. How often do you need to change the gain? I wouldn't think not often once you find out where you get the best performance and a plug would be easy to remove and replace with a friction fit.

The hole for the gain switch is only as large as it needs to be, and the switch is almost flush with the enclosure. Only dust could get inside, just as it could get into jack or switch holes in any amp. The gain really does not need to be changed because of the good channel matching of the volume control, but the ability to change it is there if needed.

I tried the AE-2 with the K340 earlier with the amp on High gain. All I can say is that I was surprised music actually came out of the K340. The amp was woefully inadequate. The loudest it could go before breaking up with distortion was a barely-moderate level. The volume knob was at around 1 o'clock - any point past that was all distortion. The LED for "Charging" also kept flickering as I listened. Heh, just goes to show how much of a power drain the K340 is I guess.

I'm still waiting for my AE-2.

It's strange, I think I should have already received it.
I emailed Justin and, although he usually replies quickly, this time I still don't have any news from him.

Regards,
ranMa

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I'm guessing that Justin is busy this week getting ready for the International Meet this weekend. You'd probably have better luck calling him. Of course, you can always try again next week.

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Thanks, guzziguy.
I'll have to wait then...

asr,

after how does the ae2 compared to the glite now that you "burned" it for some time?

The AE-2 and Gilmore Lite have differing sound signatures. I'm not going to say one is better than the other if that's what you're looking for - IMO there's no "better" with amps in this range, just different. The AE-2 sounds a lot more like the GS-1 than the Gilmore Lite - 3D soundstage, more neutral, more laidback, not as brash, energetic, or forward. The AE-2's similarity with the GS-1 is pretty uncanny.

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And that's a good thing right?
________
I did some listening last night with my ER4P and comparing my AE-2(now @ 100 hours) and SuperMini IV(default op-amp,upgraded but not the latest).

I used my Elite player/Central Station DAC as source.

The SuperMini IV has just been kicked aside!

edit-I just wanted to add some impressions from my SM/AE-2 comparison. First off, I needed to disable the impedance switch on the SM because normally I use the P>S conversion. Also the bass boost was disabled.Gain remained at low & crossfeed off.

I don't have a L&R 1/4" to stereo mini cable so I had to use a L&R 1/4" to L&R RCA , then RCA couplers to connect a L&R RCA to stereo mini cable. These are not high grade cables either but the playing field was equal even still(1/8" inputs used on both amps). Since the AE-2 has the convienent RCA inputs this is how I normally connect.

I listened to a few Diana Krall, Jane Monheit and Tierney Sutton tracks, later focusing on one Krall track which has few instruments with clean, crisp cymbals to test high freq. and "air".

In the end I could quite easily hear greater treble extension with the AE-2 with more space around instruments. Midrange with the AE-2 was more prominent which I prefered. These tracks did not test for any bass qualities.

My "kicked aside" comment was not to say that the SM won't still be used because only it can do P>S conversion and bass boost which makes the ER4P very enjoyable when using my iPod/line out...which I consider to be fun listening rather than critical listening. This comparison was only meant for IEMs and not full size which the SM can't even attempt to drive nearly as good as the AE-2. batteries used in the SM were Energizer lithium.

For example, I switched the SM gain to high(all other switches same). I listened to a vocals only track from a Brian Setzer CD- Nitro Burnin Funny Daddy. The AE-2 in high gain, volume at around 12~1 O'clock was sounding mostly unstrained with DT-880(250 Ohm) pegging my RS SPL meter at 90 dB. setting(96 dB.+ peaks)...I did not listen at this volume long, this was its limit. Using the same song, the SM was only able to drive the DT-880 to around 72 dB. before clipping. With bassy tracks this max. volume drops lower.

My last comparison was AE-2 vs. Central Station amp section (both using CS DAC). I easily noticed greater treble extension with the CS. AE-2 had more prominent mids which again I prefered. Note that the signal to the AE-2 needed to pass externally via single 6' generic cable(RCA input) whereas the CS had the advantage of shorter internal path.

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woah woah woah thats big!

Damn it. I don't even have portable setup but I want this amp, ...... badly.

Who said you need a portable setup to use it?

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